U.S. patent application number 12/072618 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for protection and authentication device for a collectable object.
Invention is credited to James J. Macor.
Application Number | 20080149518 12/072618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46330172 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080149518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Macor; James J. |
June 26, 2008 |
Protection and authentication device for a collectable object
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a protection and
authentication device for a collectable object is described. The
protection, authentication device comprises a holder formed for
assembly with at least one collectable object to provide protection
and preservation of the collectable object. The holder is formed so
as to resist disassembly and separation with the collectable
object. The holder further comprises a machine readable coded
marking, such as a barcode that is nondetachably secured to the
protection, authentication device. The coded marking, comprises a
cryptographic protocol means for a user to view at least one
digital image of the collectable object via a standard computer
system to aid the user in the authentication of the collectable
object. The digital image may be stored at a predetermined remote
database.
Inventors: |
Macor; James J.; (Jackson,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James J. Macor
P.O.Box 1450
Jackson
NJ
08527
US
|
Family ID: |
46330172 |
Appl. No.: |
12/072618 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11493312 |
Jul 26, 2006 |
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12072618 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 ;
206/775 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 50/00 20130101;
B65D 2401/00 20200501; B65D 85/58 20130101; B65D 2203/06 20130101;
B65D 11/10 20130101; B65D 25/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 ;
206/775 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00; B65D 25/54 20060101 B65D025/54 |
Claims
1. A protection and authentication device for a collectable object,
said device comprising a holder formed for assembly with at least
one collectable object to provide protection and preservation of
said collectable object, said holder being formed so as to resist
disassembly and separation with said collectable object, a machine
readable coded marking nondetachably secured to said protection and
authentication device, said marking comprising a cryptographic
protocol means for a user to view at least one digital image of
said collectable object via a standard computer system to aid said
user in the authentication of said collectable object, and, said
digital image being stored at a predetermined remote database.
2. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein said
machine readable marking is a barcode type marking.
3. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein the
digital image of the collectable object provides an authenticated
record of the collectable object.
4. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein said
predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol
for said user to electronically trade said collectable object
utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of the
collectable object.
5. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein said
predetermined database may also provide additional characteristics
of said collectable object.
6. A protection and authentication device of claim 2, wherein the
digital image of the collectable object provides an authenticated
record of the collectable object.
7. A protection and authentication device of claim 2, wherein said
predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol
for said user to electronically trade said collectable object
utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of the
collectable object.
8. A protection and authentication device of claim 2, wherein said
predetermined database may also provide additional characteristics
of said collectable object.
9. A protection and authentication device of claim 3, wherein said
predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol
for said user to electronically trade, buy or sell said collectable
object utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of
the collectable object.
10. A protection and authentication device of claim 3, wherein said
predetermined remote database may also provide additional
characteristics of said collectable object.
11. A protection and authentication device for a collectable
object, said device comprising a holder formed for assembly with at
least one collectable object to provide protection and preservation
of said collectable object, said holder being formed so as to
resist disassembly and separation with said collectable object, a
machine readable barcode nondetachably secured to said protection
and authentication device, said barcode comprising a security
protocol for a user to electronically link to at least one digital
image of said collectable object, said digital image being stored
at a predetermined remote database and viewable via a standard
computer system to aid said user in the authentication of said
collectable object, and, the digital image of the collectable
object providing an authenticated record of the collectable
object.
12. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said predetermined remote database may also provide a secure
protocol for said user to electronically trade said collectable
object utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of
the collectable object.
13. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said predetermined remote database may also provide additional
characteristics of said collectable object.
14. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said barcode is a one-dimensional (1D) symbology.
15. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said barcode is a two-dimensional (2D) symbology.
16. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said cryptographic protocol means is symmetric cryptography.
17. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said cryptographic protocol means is asymmetric cryptography.
18. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, said
barcode comprises a security protocol including an encoded
electronic link to the corresponding digital image of said
collectable object at said predetermined remote database.
19. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein
said barcode comprises a security protocol including an encoded
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that links to the corresponding
digital image of said collectable object at said predetermined
remote database.
20. A protection and authentication device of claim 15, wherein,
said barcode is graphical tag.
Description
REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/493,312 filed on Jul. 26, 2006, by the
inventor herein, entitled PROTECTION, AUTHENTICATION,
IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR A COLLECTABLE OBJECT.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the protection and
authentication of collectable objects such as coins, stamps,
currency and baseball cards.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] An industry for authentication, identification and
certification of collectables has gained prominence and
certification companies such as the Professional Coin Grading
Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) have
developed protective collectable holders to protect collectable
objects such as coins, stamps, currency, and baseball cards. They
encapsulate the collectable object and provide a professional
opinion for condition and authenticity. These certified holders
typically contain a standard barcode and serial number that are
used for processing and basic certification information. The
information typically relates to the grade, date and denomination
and fails to validate that the collectable object has not been
deceptively switched with a similar like kind collectable object
that is inferior in grade, damaged, or even counterfeit. Although
the certification services provide a tamper resistant holder, there
are documented cases of deceptive practices of removing the
collectable object (e.g., coin) from one holder and utilizing the
barcode label and grade of another certified holder to fraudulently
represent a different and uncertified collectable. Additionally,
the holder is designed to be small and portable which necessitates
a small label that only allows for minimal marking space and
certification information. Often times the user or trader would
benefit from a digital image as a record of the collectable object
in conjunction with the certification data for viewing and
authentication of the collectable object. Other benefits are
achieved by providing a secret security protocol that links the
collectable object with the digital image of the collectable
object. This would facilitate a more secure means for
authentication of the collectable object and increased
authentication for marketing, trading, auctions and Internet sales,
insurance validation, or simply an ownership validation of the
certified collectable. The owner or buyer of a collectable object
may also have an interest in additional information relative to the
collectable object such as interesting historical information,
current valuations, condition populations, and other relevant
information. Applicant believes that an improved and more secure
system is described for the protection and authentication of
collectable objects, and would benefit multiple related
collectable-based industries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one embodiment of the present invention, a protection and
authentication device for a collectable object is described. The
protection, authentication device comprises a holder formed for
assembly with at least one collectable object to provide protection
and preservation of the collectable object. The holder is formed so
as to resist disassembly and separation with the collectable
object. The holder further comprises a machine readable coded
marking, such as a barcode, that is nondetachably secured to the
protection, authentication device. The coded marking comprises a
cryptographic protocol means for a user to view at least one
digital image of the collectable object via a standard computer
system to aid the user in the authentication of the collectable
object. The digital image may be stored at a predetermined remote
database.
[0005] Recognizing the need for an improved protection and
authentication for collectable objects, the following objectives
are considered:
[0006] It is an important objective of the present invention to
provide for a secure means for a user to validate authentication of
a collectable by means of viewing and evaluating a digital image of
the collectable that corresponds to the certification of the
collectable by a trusted source such as a certification service. A
quality digital image (or images) of the collectable object that
are created and securely stored at the time of certification of the
collectable, can serve as a future record to validate authenticity.
Collectable objects such as rare coins, have unique visual
characteristics such as strike, centering, abrasions, luster,
dates, wear, mintmarks, and die-varieties. These characteristics
can be visually evaluated by a user or buyer to aid in the
validation that the certified collectable object has not been
deceptively altered or switched with an inferior example or even a
counterfeit example. Other examples of collectables that will
benefit from a protection and authentication device would include
for example, stamps, baseball cards, currency, and autographs, and
historical documents.
[0007] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide a practical sized portable holder for a collectable
object that is tamper resistant and promotes protection of the
collectable object stored in the holder.
[0008] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide a coded marking, such as a barcode that comprises the
means of securely accessing a digital image of the corresponding
collectable object, while promoting user security prompted by
line-of-sight requirements of a machine that reads the appropriate
barcode. Unlike other antenna based technologies, such as Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) that do not require line-of
sight-requirements, it is an important objective of the present
invention to provide authentication of the collectable without the
use of radio frequency reading technologies. RFID enabled devices
may create a potential security risk of privacy of a user of a rare
and valuable collectable object by an unintended third party.
[0009] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide the user with digital images of the collectable that can
be viewed by means of a standard computer system with Internet
capability.
[0010] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide a security protocol, such as a cryptographic protocol,
that provides for a user or trader of the collectable object the
ability to electronically and securely access a digital image of
the collectable object for user authentication, trading and
sales.
[0011] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide for the means to store the collectable object and the a
coded marking, such as a barcode together, in a method that resists
disassembly so as to create higher probability that the owner will
be required to utilize the protection and authentication device as
a means for accessing the digital image and authentication of the
corresponding collectable object.
[0012] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide a user a means of utilizing the digital image and
certification of the collectable for other authentication benefits,
such as insurance verification and records documentation.
[0013] It is another important objective of the present invention
to provide a user the means to quickly and securely link to
additional characteristics of the collectable object, for example,
valuation, survival population, interesting historical information,
etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a right front perspective, exploded view of one
embodiment of the present invention device shown disassembled.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a top plan elevation view of another embodiment
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the present
invention that is similar to FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The various drawings provided herein are for the purpose of
illustrating possible embodiments of the present invention and not
for the purpose of limiting the same. Therefore, the drawings
herein represent only a few of the many possible variations of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a disassembled view of one embodiment of the
present invention. A protection and authentication device for a
collectable object 1, is comprised of a collectable object 11, a
barcode label 9 with visual markings 5 of the collectable object,
for example coin 11, and a tamper resistant collectable holder
comprised of an upper housing 3, and a lower housing 23 that are
formed to enclose and protect coin 11, and barcode label 9. A
"holder" shall mean a device that holds an one or more objects. The
holder is made of a clear plastic, e.g., acrylic, and is designed
to be tamper resistant by providing a means that will make it
difficult for a user or owner to disassemble the holder once
assembled. "Tamper resistant" shall mean, resists interference as
to weaken or change for the worse. This can be accomplished by a
method that securely bonds the upper housing 3 and lower housing
23, such as ultrasonic welding of the plastic mating surfaces.
Inner core 19 is comprised of an inert plastic material and
securely holds coin 11 by means of a cut-through opening 17 that
allows viewing of the obverse and reverse of the coin. Label 9
comprises visual markings 5, such as the alphanumeric descriptors
of collectable coin 11 and may include, but are not limited to, the
coin's date, denomination, certification grade, and the
machine-readable coded marking, such as a barcode. A coded marking
is described as a machine-readable representation of information
(usually dark ink on a light or contrasting background to create
high and low reflectance which is converted to 1s and 0s). A good
example of a coded marking is a barcode. There are many types of
barcodes that could be utilized in the present invention. Barcode 7
is just one example of Linear type barcode or a one-dimensional
(1D) symbology barcode. When barcode 7 is read by the appropriate
barcode reader device, barcode 7 would typically provide basic
characteristics of coin 11 corroborating the visual alphanumeric
markings of barcode label 9. Label 9 is nondetachably secured to
the protection and authentication device by placement into inner
core 19, and the bonding of upper housing 3 to lower housing 23.
Barcode 7 also comprises a security protocol, such as a
cryptographic protocol means for a user to securely access and view
at least one digital image of collectable object 11. A
cryptographic protocol is a protocol that performs a
security-related function and applies cryptographic methods.
Cryptographic protocols often utilize one or more underlying key
agreement methods that would typically be advantageous to the
present invention. Just some examples of cryptographic protocols,
but not limited to, include key agreements or establishments,
entity authentication, symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption,
digital signatures, digital credentials, blind signatures, and
shared-secret protocols. Various forms of cryptographic protocols
could be utilized and encoded in Barcode 7. Public-key
cryptography, also known as asymmetric cryptography is described as
one example for the purpose of describing the present invention.
Public-key cryptography is a form of cryptography in which a user
has a pair of cryptographic keys, a public key and a private key.
The private key is held secret, while the public key can be widely
distributed. The keys are related mathematically, but the private
key cannot be practically derived from the public key. A message
encrypted with the public key can be decrypted only with the
corresponding private key. For example, Barcode 7 maintains a
public key linked to a corresponding digital image of coin 11, that
is distributed by a Public-Key-infrastructure (PKI), for example,
the certification service that is certifying (and imaging) the
collectable object. A certification service shall be described as
an industry authority on specific collectable objects, and that
provide an expert opinion of grade, authenticity and certification
of the collectable object. As an example, the certification service
would encode Barcode 7, with a public key that can only be
decrypted by the certification service's private key, or the
certificate authority that has ownership of the private key.
Barcode 7 may include various means to link to the certification
services private network. For example, when Barcode 7 is decoded by
means of the appropriate barcode reader, it will reveal a key to
the certification services private network and the corresponding
digital image of coin 11 that is housed with barcode 7. The key may
be in several forms and dependent on the type of cryptography, but
would typically include such examples as an encrypted hash
function, a random selection of bytes that could be associated with
the barcode serial number, or even a message that incorporates a
basic description of coin 11. The encoded barcode would typically
provide the means to link to the PKI, by such means as a Uniform
Resource Locator (URL), or a Hyperlink. The PKI, maintaining
possession of the key pairs, provides the means for decryption, and
confidential access and viewing of the corresponding digital
image/s of coin 11 by a user of the public key. Typically, the PKI
would be the certification service, but another entity could
provide the service in conjunction with the certification service.
The PKI would typically issue the certificate keys, and link the
corresponding digital image/s of the collectable object at the time
of certification of the collectable object, for a future record of
authentication. The digital image/s of a collectable coin for
example, will typically possess unique visual characteristics such
as strike variations, centering of design, abrasions, luster
qualities, date of issue, wear, coloration, mintmarks, and
die-varieties, etc., and serve as a future record of coin 11. Such
characteristics can be visually evaluated by a user or buyer to
validate that the certified collectable object has not been
deceptively altered or switched with an inferior example, or even a
counterfeit example after the coin has been certified and
encapsulated by the certification. Other examples of collectables
that would be applicable to the present invention, a protection and
authentication device for a collectable object, would include for
example, stamps, baseball cards, currency, autographs, and
historical documents.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the
present invention. A protection and authentication device for a
collectable object 30, is comprised of a collectable object 37, a
coded marking such as barcode 35 with visual typical visual
descriptive markings 33 of the collectable object, a collectable
object (coin) 37, and a tamper resistant collectable holder 31.
Holder 31 is shown as only one of many different possible sizes and
form factors that would be applicable to the present invention.
Barcode 35 comprises a security protocol means for an electronic
link that fetches a remote database, such as a certification
service's database, so a user can view at least one digital image
of collectable coin 37. There are many types of electronic links
such as hyperlinks, in-line links, deep-links, embedded links. For
the purpose of the present invention, and as only one example, a
hyperlink is described. A hyperlink is a coded reference or
navigation element in a document to another section of the same
document or to another document at a different website location. In
this case, the hyperlink would navigate to the appropriate remote
database location so a user can view the corresponding digital
image of collectable 37. As an additional security means, the
website might utilize a user login and password to verify the
user's identity. The remote website may also provide linked
associative data of collectable 37 such as the certification
service's population reports, valuation, and interesting history
associated with collectable object 37. The user might decide to
initiate trading of collectable object 37, which shall refer to the
sale or auction of collectable object 37, by performing certain
user interface protocols, and the digital image of collectable
object 37 could then be activated for public viewing as a certified
record of the collectable, and offered for sale or auction bidding.
The auction or sales protocol could be prompted by a user interface
protocol at the remote website or another trusted external site,
such as an auction company's website.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. A
top plan view of a protection and authentication device for a
collectable object 40, is comprised of a collectable object (coin)
37, two different types of coded markings, or barcodes symbologies,
barcode 43, a linear type barcode or one-dimensional (1D)
symbology, and barcode 44, a data matrix type barcode or
two-dimensional (2D) symbology. The protection and authentication
device for a collectable object 40, may contain more than just one
barcode, but at least one barcode comprises a security protocol to
electronically link to the corresponding digital image/s of the
collectable coin 37. Barcode 43 may be a coded marking with basic
encoding relative to the sequential certification information
associated with coin 37, and barcode 44, a data matrix barcode
could provide the electronic link, or security protocol. For
example, one type of a data matrix barcode is a Semacode that
incorporates machine-readable data matrix symbols that encode an
Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Semacodes are also
referred to as "graphical tags" that can be read by a portable
phone's camera using Semacode's SDK software and provide an encoded
means to link to a predetermined Internet location. The encoding of
the Semacode 44 could have the encoded URL that fetches the
corresponding digital image of coin 37 electronically, that is
stored at a predetermined remote database, such as a certification
service's database. Alternately, or as an additional security
feature, barcode 43 could comprise another different security
protocol, for example, a one-way-link. A one-way-link is a type of
hyperlink that points to a website without any reciprocal link;
thus the link goes "one way" in direction, and provides the encoded
destination for viewing the corresponding digital image/s of coin
37. The certification service may utilize other security features
such as a user login and password to validate the user's
identity.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the present
invention that is similar to FIG. 1. A protective holder 300 houses
at least one collectable object 305 and a coded marking, such as
barcode 303, that is encoded with a cryptographic key such as a
public key. The appropriate barcode reader device, such as laser
scanning device 307, reads barcode 303 and provides a user with the
barcode data to computer system 309. The barcode data may include
basic information, such as the collectable's grade, date, and
certification information. Barcode 303 also provides a
cryptographic key, for example that may be in the form of an
encrypted message or big number, and can be sent to a
Public-Key-Infrastructure (PKI), such as a certification service's
remote network 311. The PKI decrypts the public key with the
ownership of a private key and enables access to securely view a
linked image(s) of collectible object 305 that is stored in the
PKI's database. The PKI may utilize other security features such as
a user login and password to validate the user's identity. The PKI
may also provide linked associative data of collectable 305 such as
internet hyperlinks that could bring a user to other internal sites
or external sites, including external sites that have a trusted
agreement with the PKI, such as an auction company. Additional
secret data, such as the certification service's population
reports, may also be made available to the user. The user might
decide to initiate the sale or auction of collectable 305, by
performing certain user interface protocols, and the digital image
of collectable 305 could then be activated for public viewing for
sale or auction bidding. The auction or sales protocol could be
prompted by a user interface protocol at the PKI's remote network
or another external site that has a key agreement with the PKI such
as auction company 313.
[0023] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the terms and
expressions have been used herein as terms of description and not
limitation. There is no intention to use the terms or expressions
to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or
portions thereof, and this invention should be defined in
accordance with the claims that follow, or the equivalence
thereof.
* * * * *